DPAC Rising Star Awards winners compete in 2025 Jimmy Awards

DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) -- Two local high school students represented North Carolina at this year's Jimmy Awards after winning Best Actor and Best Actress at the 2025 DPAC Rising Star Awards.

Josiah Jennings from Hillside High School and Carmen Sophia Dubon from Weaver Academy won scholarships and a trip to New York to compete in the National High School Musical Theatre Awards, also known as the Jimmy Awards.

The DPAC Rising Star Awards celebrate outstanding achievement in high school musical theatre by focusing attention on the meaningful work being done both on and off stage by dedicated teachers and students.

This regional competition is open to high school musical theatre productions and musical theatre students in Central North Carolina.

"What an awesome year for The DPAC Rising Star Awards!" said Megan Rindoks, DPAC's director of community engagement.

"We had students involved both on and off the stage, handling lighting design, wardrobe and props, stage management, and more. We also had twenty incredibly talented Finalists deliver stellar performances on the DPAC stage."

The Jimmy Awards happened on Monday, June 23, at the Minskoff Theatre on Broadway in New York. The competition highlights the best of high school musical theatre talent and features nominees from over 50 regions across the U.S.

See Full List of Nominees

This year's host is Josh Groban, a two-time Tony and five-time Grammy Award-nominated singer, songwriter, actor, and philanthropist.